Clamp



CLAMP Filed Jan. 3, 1934 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1936 NETE STATS PANT CLAMP ration of New Jersey Application January 3,

3 Claims.

The object of my invention is to devise a novel* construction of a clamp which can be made of spring material and which is provided at opposite sides with superimposed gripping members.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing typical embodiments of it, which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and my invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a catamenial belt in position upon the wearer.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the belt.

Figure 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of an end of the belt with a spring clamp ernbodying my invention removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spring clamp seen in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of another form of clamp embodying my invention.

Figure 6 is a plan View, on an enlarged scale of an end portion of the belt and a spring clamp.

Figure 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an end portion of a belt embodying my invention showing more particularly one manner in which it can be reinforced.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of another form of clamp embodying my invention.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:

l designates a catamenial belt which is formed from two strips 2 and 3 respectively of washable elastic webbing. The end portions of the two strips are brought together one above the other, see Figure 3, and at a desired distance from their ends they are curved in opposite directions as at 4 and 5 and secured together by a line of stitching li to form at the ends of the belt the exible and resilient pads 'l consisting of a double thickness "of webbing. rIhe two strips of elastic webbing are only connected together at their end portions. Each pad l at the ends of the belt has permanently connected with it a flat spring clamp 8. The clamps 8 are of ilattened formation and the body portion of a clamp is preferably formed from a single piece i934, Serial No. 705,@50

(Cl. 2li- 255) of spring wire 9 which is coiled upon itself at its rear corner edges to form the eyes l0, then extends forwardly to form the sides Il which merge into the diagonally extending members l2 which merges into the terminals I3. I4 are gripping jaws formed preferably of sheet maa terial with portions turned over to form sleeves to receive the terminals I3 and which are provided with the rearwardly deflected teeth or pins 5. These teeth I5 form in effect hooks .l which are superimposed. The eyes il) of a spring clamp are sewed to a pad l' as will be understood from Figures 2 and 6. The jaws of a clamp may have any desired number of teeth or hooks, and, in Figure 5, I have shown a l spring clamp similar to that of Figure 4 except that only a single hook I6 is shown 0n a jaw. The jaws are swaged, soldered or otherwise secured to the terminals of the spring wire.

In the embodiment of my invention seen in .y Figure 7, two strips Il and I3 of elastic webbing are used, each of which at one end is cut at an angle as at I9 and sewed to the juxtaposed strip, as at 2li, with bothA strips in the same hori- Zontal planes. The free end of each strip is folded over upon itself and stitched together as at 2l to form the iiexible and resilient end pads 22 to which the spring clamps are sewed in a similar manner to that disclosed in Figures 2 and 6.

In case thin webbing is used, the pad forming portions may be reinforced as shown in Figure 8 by inserting between the two strips of Figure 2, or the folds of Figure 7, a strip of webbing 23 in which the elastic strands extend transversely instead of longitudinally which is the disposition of the rubber cords or strands of the belt.

The belt portions of the strips between the tabs are not connected with each other and are substantially spaced from each other.

Due to the fact that at the tab portions the two strips curve or diverge outwardly in opposite directions, the belt portions will have a smooth t on and closely engage the body without wrinkling or bulging and at the same time be free to yield to any movements of the body.

Any pull or draw on a pad will cause the jaws oi" its spring clamp to more firmly grip the sanitary napkin.

The elastic webbing is free to stretch longitudinally throughout its length and will withstand repeated washings. Elastic webbing of this character can be used for several years.

In Figure 9, the spring clamp at its rear end has an inwardly extending loop 24 to facilitate sewing it to the pads or cushions and prevent relative lateral movement therewith.

The jaws of the clamp move laterally into Igripping position so that a very at clamp is provided and as this clamp is permanently connected on the outer face of the cushion the wearer does not have any feel of the clamp when wearing the belt.

The pad portions at the ends of the belt form exible and resilient cushions which prevent the metal of the clamps coming into direct contact with the body or being felt by the wearer when used under a tight fitting girdle.

Since the clamps are of flattened formation there will be no bulging of the outer garments.

The teeth or serrations of the jaws are preferably curved or tapered rearwardly so that the threads of the fabric will be wedged in place without breaking such threads. The teeth on each jaw are superimposed and corresponding teeth of opposite jaws converge toward each other and provide a central opening to receive the article to be gripped.

The belt can be very economically manufactured as it consists of but two strips of elastic webbing with spring clamps at the ends.

No adjustment of the belt is necessary as it is resilient throughout its length and no metal or other adjusting device is employed.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful clamp which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that these embodiments are susceptible of modiication in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The herein described spring clamp, comprising a spring metal strand bent to form a substantially flat construction having stitch attaching means, side walls crossing each other and terminals, and jaws connected with the terminals and having superimposed hooks, with the corresponding hooks on opposite terminals extending towards each other.

2. The herein described spring clamp comprising a spring metal strand deflected to form one or more loops to receive an attaching thread and extending outwardly to form spring side walls which merge into inclined crossing stretches extending to terminals, and flat gripping jaws fixed to said terminals each of said jaws having superimposed teeth with the teeth of diierent jaws converging towards each other and providin g a central opening to receive the article being gripped.

3. A spring clamp, comprising a strand bent to form a rear wall with one or more eyes, and

which incline rearwardly and towards each other. l

EUGENE F. GAINES. 

